Albany Police Shot and Killed a Man, not a “Parolee”

Many of us have become familiar with the ways our perceptions often get colored by media representations. One of the most enduring images, created in large measure by the media, is that of Black women as “welfare mothers,” even though the largest segment of the population receiving public assistance has always been White. Such misrepresentations are often harmful, especially when we are confronted with debates about allocations for public assistance. If legislators and much of the public view women of color as the “typical” recipient, social policy is adversely affected.

The language we confront in popular media can have subtle power over us if we are not vigilant. For instance, on Thursday, February 18th the Times Union featured the headline “Police: Cop kills parolee to save officer.” The language chosen to designate Howard Tucker, a 37 year old father of three young children, who was shot and killed by Albany police officers Tuesday, serves to dehumanize Mr. Tucker. Of what significance is it that Mr. Tucker had been paroled at some point in his life? It does not diminish his humanness.

Calling Mr. Tucker a “Parolee,” works to bring readers to dismiss his life and its tragic end. It clouds over the complicated details of our criminal justice system, suggesting that anyone with a history of conviction is dangerous and somehow expendable. Howard Tucker’s family noted that while he had been convicted of drug possession, he had never been arrested for violent behavior or owned a gun. The Times Union reports that Tucker’s niece described him as “the quiet one, real passive, real shy.”

It is important to note that had Tucker lived in most countries other than the United States, he would probably have faced community service and/or drug treatment services, but not prison. Designating him a “Parolee,” instead of a man, is indicative of the kinds of assumptions we make. It allows readers to gloss over the loss of a life that may have ended much differently had the victim not lived in a country where 1 out of 3 men of African descent find themselves in prison at some point in their lives, most for non-violent acts.

And announcing that the killing was necessary to “save” the life of an “officer” attempts to bring readers to dismiss the complexities of the case. Even if the shooting of Tucker was justified –and this is a big “if” — the use of such language, elevating Officer Moynihan’s status and dismissing Tucker’s humanness, attempts to have readers find no fault with police actions even if their actions were unjustified.

What happened in Albany on Tuesday was that police officers shot and killed a Black Man, whatever the reason or circumstances.